LAS VEGAS — Welterweight Curtis Millender overcame a shaky opening round and put together a commanding third round to earn the unanimous decision over Max Griffin.

All three judges scored it 29-28 for Millender (16-3), who has won eight in a row and is now 2-0 in the UFC.

“Honestly, I didn’t feel myself out there tonight. That first round was tough. I just couldn’t find my groove,” Millender said. “I knew I won the second and third rounds but, even then, I felt a little off. That’s when you show your worth though. Going out there and getting the job done even if you feel off.”

The former San Bernardino resident, who now lives and trains in Fullerton at CSW, was taken down in the opening round and spent the last three minutes on his back absorbing punches and elbows.

The second round was punctuated by Millender tagging Griffin (14-5) with a left and following with a knee to the body, then taking him down near the end of the round.

“I knew he wasn’t going to like those body shots so I worked those to my advantage,” Millender said. “I used my dynamic striking, my knees and kicks, to win the exchanges and took control of the rounds.”

Millender hurt Griffin in the third and had the Sacramento fighter staggered but couldn’t finish him.

A nasty welt sprouted on Millender’s right foot by the end of the fight – a result of Griffin checking a kick early in the fight – and Millender was limping noticeably after the victory.

Perry bloodies Felder

A couple weeks ago, Mike Perry and Paul Felder weren’t expecting to fight each other. Much to fans’ delight, they did.

Perry made a mess of Felder’s face, cutting him open twice and leaving him with a hematoma on his forehead, while Felder fought most of the fight with a broken arm, according to one of his cornermen.

In the end, it was Perry getting the split decision over the No. 14 lightweight who moved up to welterweight to fight on nine day’s notice. The judges scored it 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 for Perry (12-3), who snapped a two-fight losing streak after starting 4-1 in the UFC

Felder (15-4), who was supposed to fight James Vick at 155 pounds next weekend in Boise, Idaho, saw Vick get moved to another card. And when Yancey Medeiros, Perry’s original opponent, backed out on the same day due to a rib injury, Felder decided to move up 15 pounds to take on Perry.

Early in the opening round, Felder got cut on his head above his hairline. In the second round, a Perry left opened Felder on his right eyebrow. It bled bad enough that referee Marc Goddard brought in the ringside doctor to check it out.

The fight continued as a hematoma began to sprout on Felder’s forehead just above the cut.

In the third round, Felder was still bouncing on his feet as Perry slowly stalked him. The final 30 seconds found the two in the center of the Octagon trading shots as the crowd cheered.

Pettis makes Chiesa tap

Anthony Pettis said he wanted to get back to what made him great.

The former lightweight champion did that and more, catching Michael Chiesa in a traingle armbar to force the tapout early in the second round.

The lightweights engaged in a spirited first round, with the ninth-ranked Chiesa scoring two takedowns. Pettis, ranked No. 12, had the moment of the round, however, when he dropped Cheisa right at the horn. Chiesa popped back up and got in Pettis’ face to the crowd’s delight.

In the second, Pettis staggered Chiesa with a straight right then followed with a partially blocked flying knee and that Chiesa down. Pettis went for a guillotine choke, which Chiesa reversed and ended up in Pettis’ guard.

Pettis wasted no time wrapping his legs around Chiesa’s head for a triangle choke. As Chiesa rolled to his left, Pettis seized the arm, forcing the tapout just 52 seconds into the round.

Rountree stuns Saki

Khalil Rountree, with one punch, shocked the world.

The light heavyweight southpaw crushed former kickboxing star Gokhan Saki with a straight left that led to his stunning first-round TKO victory.

Many expected early fireworks from Saki, who came in as a decorated striker, having recorded 59 knockouts in 96 kickboxing matches.

A straight left from Rountree (8-3) sent Saki (1-2) onto his back, his arms flailing, before Rountree hesitantly approached his downed opponent.

Rountree unleashed six giant hammerfists as Saki tried covering up and rolling to his side. Referee Jason Herzog had seen enough and stopped the fight just 1:36 into the round.

Paula Costa finds another KO victim in Uriah Hall

The Paulo Costa KO train keeps motoring along.

The ripped Brazilian middleweight, showing devastating power, delivered a TKO of Uriah Hall at 2:38 of the second round Saturday at UFC 226 at T-Mobile Arena.

Using body kicks and hooks, Costa (12-0) did most of his damage against the fence, where Hall had nowhere to go and no choice but to absorb punishment.

Hall, ranked No. 9 in the division, had his moments and often found a home for his blistering left jab. He also took two low blows from Costa.

The 10th-ranked Costa finally caught Hall (14-9) with a big left and followed with punches. A right to the ribs finally sent Hall to the mat.

Fittingly nicknamed The Eraser, Costa is now 4-0 with 4 knockouts in his 16-month UFC career. Hall has lost four of his past five.